African American Children's Literature

The Story of Lightning & Thunder

Bibliographic data

Bryan, Ashley. 1993. THE STORY OF LIGHTNING AND THUNDER. Ill. by Ashley Bryan. New York: Macmillian Publishing Company. ISBN 0689318367

Brief plot summary

Ma Sheep Thunder and her son Lightning live in a East African village in a small hut. Their friend, Rain, helps them when the town needs water, such as when “…the farmlands are dry.” Ma Sheep Thunder loves to stop and talk to her neighbors and the people in the market. Her son, Thunder get impatient and often creates trouble while his mother is talking. Lightning is not very patient. His impatience gets him and his mother kicked out of the village and eventually they must move to the sky where Lightning will not cause any more harm to the village.

Critical analysis

Bryan introduces the reader to Ma Sheep Thunder and Lightning by telling the reader about a “long time ago” and explaining about the beginnings of Africa and how the mother and son lived during this time. Bryan also provides vividly colorful illustrations to show the reader some of the mischief that Lightning got himself into. These elements help the reader to connect with the characters and to understand Ma Sheep Thunder and Lightning’s role in the community and how the community depended on them. However, one weakness is that the story itself does not provide the reader with more of a sense of connection with the culture of Africa. The culture itself is hardly mentioned except at the beginning of the story, but the illustrations help the reader to connect with the culture and help to give the reader the connection of the African culture.

Bryan’s vivid illustrations help the reader to visualize the world in which Ma Sheep Thunder and Lightning lived. The colorful clothes that the people of the west coast of Africa wore or according to the story, Africa was called Alkebu-lan long ago. The town’s people have friendly and welcoming faces and each person is unique. There is also a beautiful illustration with several of the village people in their vivid clothes. Some people wear hoop jewelry or are shown playing a pipe. The skin color of each person is different, as well as their hats and hair. One of the biggest strengths of the story is that the illustrations give the reader a deeper understanding of the uniqueness of each individual, and that uniqueness is something that is celebrated and embraced.

The illustrations give the reader a sense of what life in an African village is like, especially with how people interact with each other. It is important to Ma Sheep Thunder to stop and talk with the people, and the reader gets a sense that this is an important part of life in the village. The reader can get a sense of the sorrow that Ma Sheep Thunder feels when she and her son are kicked out of the village. Furthermore, the illustrations give a deeper meaning to the African culture, such as the straw maker selling her merchandise in the market and the king coming to celebrate with is people for the great harvest. All of these elements come together to celebrate the African culture and to welcome the reader to join in the celebration.

Review excerpt(s)

Publishers Weekly: "Joyful in both word and palette," said PW, "this African story tells why lightning and thunder reside in the sky and not on earth, as they once did."

Kirkus Reviews: “There is one of Bryan's uniquely vibrant, swirling, light-filled paintings on every page.”

Connections

-Discuss the relationship between Ma Sheep Thunder and Lightning and draw a picture of Ma Sheep Thunder chasing her son in the sky.

-Get a map of Africa and discuss where Ma Sheep Thunder and Lightning are living.

-Go to a weather map or www.weather.com. Discuss and review what happens when it rains and what elements come together to create rain.

Other African American folktales:

Arkhurst, Joyce Cooper. THE ADVENTURES OF SPIDER: WEST AFRICAN FOLKTALES. ISBN 0316051071

Bryan, Ashley. BEAT THE STORY-DRUM, PUM-PUM. ISBN 0689711077

Bryan, Ashley. BEAUTIFUL BLACKBIRD. ISBN 0689847319

Mandela, Nelson. NELSON MANDELA’S FAVORITE AFRICAN FOLKTALES. ISBN 0393329909

Washington, Donna L. A PRIDE OF AFRICAN TALES. ISBN 0060249293

Black Cowboy Wild Horses A True Story

Bibliography

Lester, Julius. 1998. BLACK COWBOY WILD HORSES A TRUE STORY. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney. New York: Dial Books. ISBN 0803717873

Plot Summary

Bob Lemmons used to be a slave but is now a cowboy on a ranch in the American West. He knows how to track and is especially good at tracking animals. His journey begins when he sees mustang tracks on the ground. So, he rides with his horse Warrior and follows the herd all day and night and even through a fierce thunderstorm. As the herd begins to accept Lemmons, he has Warrior challenge the herd’s leader, who just lost a colt from a snakebite. Warrior defeats the stallion and Lemmons has the herd follow him to the ranch where the cheering ranch hands enclose the herd in a corral.  

Critical analysis

Julius Lester introduces readers to a true story about Bob Lemmons, an African American cowboy who helped shape the American west. Lester gives readers a small glimpse into the life of an African American cowboy and some of the external hardships that they faced in the untamed West. The story shows Lemmons’ determination and patience in gathering the wild mustang herd and how important his role was on the ranch for “[n]o one he knew could bring in mustangs by themselves…” Lemmons braves a thunderstorm along with long days and nights of patiently waiting for the herd to accept him.

One of the biggest strengths of the story is the contribution of Bob Lemmons to American history and the West. However, one weakness to the story is that there is not a strong mention of the African American culture. Bob Lemmons’ early life was briefly mentioned where “Bob had been a slave and never learned to read words.” On the other hand, the story focuses more on Lemmons’ skill and determination in tracking and gathering the mustang herd than on his African American heritage.

Jerry Pinkney’s illustrations truly bring the story to life and add drama and beauty to the story about Bob Lemmons. The mustang horses are breathtakingly beautiful and look as if they are alive and full of energy. The background colors in the illustrations are somewhat subdued, but this helps the main characters such as Bob Lemmons and Warrior to be more prominent in the illustrations. There is one powerful illustration of the whole mustang herd that jumps out at the reader because all of their eyes are looking directly forward into the eyes of the reader. There is one heartbreaking scene in which the mother of the colt that died is refusing to leave her young and the young colt is looking back into the eyes of the reader. Overall, each illustration contributes a depth to the story that captures the heart and eyes of the reader.

Review excerpt(s)

Publisher’s Weekly: “The fluid brushwork of Pinkney's watercolors seem tailor-made for the flow of muscle, mane and tail of wild mustangs galloping across the prairie.”

School Library Journal: “The linkages between the cowboy, the animals, and the natural world are so strong that lines separating them are blurred.”

Booklist: “Lester and Pinkney's manifest love and respect for the West and cowboys of color, whose contributions have been too long overlooked, distinguish their latest collaboration.”

Connections

-Have children identify the different types of animal tracks that are leading to the collection of award-winning African-American books.

-Discuss Lemmons important historical role in the American West and some of the challenges that Lemmons might have come across in his lifetime.

Further books about the impact African-Americans have had in America:

Coles, Robert. THE STORY OF RUBY BRIDGES. ISBN 0439598443

Hopkins, Deborah. SWEET CLARA AND THE FREEDOM QUILT. ISBN 0679874720

Johnson, Angela. A SWEET SMELL OF ROSES. ISBN 1416953612

Pinkney, Andrea Davis. BILL PICKETT: RODEO-RIDIN’ COWBOY. ISBN 0152021035

Ringold, Faith. AUNT HARRIET’S UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN THE SKY ISBN 0517885433

 

If You Come Softly

Bibliographic data

Woodson, Jacqueline. 1998. IF YOU COME SOFTLY. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons. ISBN 0399231129

Brief plot summary

Ellie is a Jewish teenager living in Manhattan and Miah is an African American teenager in Brooklyn. They both meet and instantly feel a connection between each other at the Percy Academy. They fall deeply in love and feel as though they have found their life-long partner, someone they can talk to about anything and the special person who truly understands them. However, both are feeling the effects of a prejudiced society, especially when two older white women ask Ellie if she is okay while she is walking with Miah in the park. Both teens are troubled by the talk and stares of other people, but they do not let it break up the strong bond that they have for one another.

Critical analysis

Woodson delves deeply into the feeling and thoughts of Miah and Ellie and gives the reader insight into the internal and external struggles that the characters are facing. Miah is sensitive to the feelings of those around him and cares deeply for those he loves. Ellie openly loves Miah and feels the stares that other people give them, but she embraces her love for Miah and feels that she can never be parted from him. The story has so many strengths that it is impossible to find any weaknesses. Woodson briefly describes what truly happened to Miah at the end of the story, but she focuses more on Miah’s thoughts that go through his head and the tender memories he has of Ellie and his family. The reader gets a sense of the negative reactions of the people around them, but the positives and the delights of Miah and Ellie finding each other and the precious time that they spend together are a major focus of the story.

Miah is very aware that he is black and he never experiences a moment when he forgets that he is black. In the story Miah is talking with his father in the car and his father tells him “[t]hing about white people…[t]hey don’t know they’re white” (134). Miah’s father is pointing out that white people do not think about the color of their skin until they are surrounded by people who are of a different color. Then they start to feel how black people feel all of the time. They start to become aware of their race.

The setting of the story and the plot are interwoven. Miah is not the typical student at Percy Academy. He is black, comes from an economically advantaged family, and is in love with a Caucasian Jewish girl. Miah lives in Brooklyn and Ellie lives in Manhattan. Yet, in spite of these factors, Miah and Ellie stay together which makes their relationship stronger. They both have to face the problems that come with being a mixed couple, but they learn to overcome this thorough the support that they have for one another.    

Review excerpt(s)

Publisher’s Weekly: “Once again, Woodson (I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This) handles delicate, even explosive subject matter with exceptional clarity, surety and depth.”

School Library Journal: “This fine author once again shows her gift for penning a novel that will ring true with young adults as it makes subtle comments on social situations.”

Booklist: “As in all her fiction, Woodson confronts prejudice head-on.”

Connections

-Discuss how people of different cultures have an impact on a community, how all people can learn from one another, and how they bring their various cultures and traditions to society.

Other books about racial discrimination:

Ellis, Deborah. BIFOCAL. ISBN 155455036X

Lee, Harper. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. ISBN 0446310786

Woodson, Jacqueline. THE HOUSE YOU PASS ON THE WAY. ISBN 0399239693

 

International Children's Literature

The Shadows of Ghadames

Bibliographic data

Stolz, Joëlle. 1999. THE SHADOWS OF GHADAMES. New York, NY: Delacorte Press. ISBN 0385901313.

Brief plot summary

Stolz focuses on the town of Ghadames, which is located in Libya. In Ghadames a young woman named Malika is soon becoming a woman and starts to learn the restrictions that are placed on women. While she is coping with these changes, a stranger arrives in the middle of the night while her father is away on business. The stranger, Abdelkarim, is being pursued by some of the townsmen called Aïssaouïa, who try to chase him out of town for attempting to preach a new religion. During the chase Abdelkarim gets injured. As the Aïssaouïa are chasing Abdelkarim, Malika’s father’s second wife, Bilkisu takes him in, and the women hide him while he is healing. During his stay, Abdelkarim’s views about women change and he teaches Malika how to read and write. Throughout all of these experiences, Malika comes to expect more from herself and become aware of the strengths of the women around her.

Critical analysis

Stolz portrays the harshness and the reality of the roles of women in Ghadames. Women must cover up in front of men, stay in their homes, never interact with other men that are not of their family, and marry at a young age. However, through all of this, Stolz introduces us to Malika, who yearns for more in her life but who must come to terms with the role of a woman and the responsibilities of her gender. Furthermore, Malika learns more about the strength of the Ghadames women, especially her father’s second wife Bilkisu, who stretches the boundaries of the traditional wife of a Ghadames husband. Bilkisu is presented as a strong role model for Malika. She says what she thinks but is still respectful of Malika’s mother, her father’s first wife Meriem. Bilkisu knows that it is the right thing to do by taking Abdelkarim in and is even courageous enough to risk the wrath and penalties of the Ghadames community by taking him in.

The focus of the plot is centered on the role of women and how the Ghadames women cope with the restrictions that are placed around them. During the women’s market while Abdelkarim is locked in the cupboard, he is privileged to hear what women talk about. The women are kind to one another and sell their products generously because “Who know if she herself won’t experience poverty tomorrow?” (76). This gives the reader further understanding of the vulnerability that women every day and that they are ultimately at the mercy of the community and especially at the mercy of a male dominated society. Abdelkarim starts to understand this and encourages Malika in her reading and writing.

The strength of the story focuses on Malika’s point of view, which gives the reader an opportunity to see the daily life of a young woman in the Middle East. Malika’s world is restricted and this can be seen as she realizes the things that she will never do such as travel with her father or play with her brother who “…is becoming a man…” (40). There is one weakness throughout the story in that the author does not let the reader know the decade that the story takes place until the very end of the story. However this can be seen as the timelessness in the world that Malika lived in and the agelessness of the Ghadames traditions and beliefs. Malika’s father also makes a prediction in the changes that are to come to Ghadames and to hold on to the knowledge that while cities may change, the stars are a force that will always remain the same (118).

Review excerpt(s)

Children’s Literature: “This novel's females are independent, strong, and resourceful, mentoring each other, questioning rules, and adjusting societal expectations.”

Booklist: “The vivid backdrop is intoxicating, but the story's universal concerns will touch readers most: sibling jealously, confusion about adult customs, and a growing interest in a world beyond family.”

Kirkus Reviews: “…a cast of distinct characters, each of which displays a unique blend of strengths and weaknesses, as well as sometimes unexpected intelligence and compassion.”

Connections

-Discuss and share cultural family customs. Compare similarities and traditions between the Middle Eastern culture with your own family and cultural traditions.

Further books about women of the Middle East:

Ellis, Deborah. MUD CITY. ISBN 0888995423

Laird, Elizabeth. KISS THE DUST. ISBN 0140368558

Nye, Naomi Shihab. HABIBI. ISBN 0689825234

Staples, Suzanne Fisher. SHABANU: DAUGHTER OF THE WIND. ISBN 0440238560

Staples, Suzanne Fisher. UNDER THE PERSIMMON TREE. ISBN 0312377762

Koala Lou

Bibliographic data

Fox, Mem. 1988. KOALA LOU. Ill. by Pamela Lofts.  New York, NY: Gulliver Books. ISBN 0152005021

Brief plot summary

Koala Lou is loved by those around her, especially by her mother. However, as the years pass, Koala Lou’s mom has other children and Koala Lou begins to feel that her mom doesn’t have time for her any more. So, Koala Lou decides to try out for the Bush Olympics, so that her mom will tell her “Koala Lou, I DO love you!” However, Koala Lou’s plan doesn’t go as she had hoped.

Critical analysis

Mem Fox introduces readers to Koala Lou who is her mother’s only child at the beginning of the story. Everyone around her thinks that she is adorable and lavishes attention upon Koala Lou. However, as time passes and Koala Lou grows up, her mother pays less attention to her and more toward her younger children. Koala Lou begins to become sad that her mother does not spend as much time with her anymore. Many older siblings can relate to the story as Koala Lou feels ignored by her mother because much of her mother’s attention is taken up by her younger brothers and sisters.

Pamela Lofts’ illustrations capture the warm loving world that Koala Lou lives. One of Lofts pictures depicts all those that love Koala Lou looking back at the readers with kindly faces. As the story progresses, the reader sees Koala Lou literally separate from her mother. This gives the reader a feeling of the loneliness that Koala Lou was feeling.

Attention to detail in the illustrations and the story add depth to Koala Lou’s world. The illustrations depict a forest with bright and colorful bugs, lizards, and even frogs that are not found in North America. Mem Fox has Koala Lou competing in the Bush Olympics, where Koala Lou is racing to reach the top of a gum tree, which is more native to the Australian region. However, in spite of these geographical depictions of Australia, all readers can relate to Koala Lou’s attempt to win her mother’s attention.

Review excerpt(s)

The Horn Book: "A first-rate choice for bedtime, story hour, or reading aloud."

Publishers Weekly: “… Fox's books send out positive messages to children about the wonders of being human…”

Connections

-Disscuss, plan, and implement your own Bush Olympics.

-Have children point out the various different animals in Koala Lou. Then, have them research an animal of their choice.

Other books about koalas:

Crozat, Francois. I AM A LITTLE KOALA BEAR. ISBN 9780812064827

Dennard, Deborah. KOALA COUNTRY: A STORY OF AN AUSTRALIAN EUCALYPTUS FOREST. ISBN 9781568998886

Hamilton, Martha A. WHY KOALA HAS A STUMPY TAIL. ISBN 9780874838794

Butler, John. CAN YOU CUDDLE LIKE A KOALA? ISBN 9781561453474

Alice in Wonderland

Bibliographic data

Carroll, Lewis. ALICE IN WONDERLAND. Ill. by John Tenniel. New York, NY: Avenel Books.

*No ISBN or date of publication is listed in the book. 

Brief plot summary

Lewis Carroll introduces a little girl named Alice who goes on several adventures in a Wonderland. One day Alice is lazily dozing outside with her sister when she sees a talking white rabbit. She follows it down a rabbit hole and enters a wonderland where, as the Cheshire cat says, “we’re all mad here” (90). Alice meets many mad people, goes to a never-ending tea party, and plays croquet with a temperamental queen who likes to have people’s heads chopped off. All of these adventures help Alice to find her courage to be more outspoken. 

Critical analysis

Carroll’s story captures the imagination and takes it on a “mad” roller coaster ride. The characters, such as the Mad Hatter and the Duchess, add comical depth to the story. It is sometimes hard to make sense of why certain events happen, such as when the cook throws pots and pans at the Duchess, or when the baby turns into a pig. However, the reader is just as confused as Alice as to why these things happen. The readers can come to their own conclusions as to why some of these “mad” people act the way that they do. Readers can infer that the cook threw pots and pans at the duchess to symbolize the lower classes’ anger toward the aristocracy.

The mad, senseless events in the story can be seen as both a strength and a weakness to the story. A reader could get lost and frustrated trying to figure out exactly why the baby turns into a pig. However, the strength of the story can be the uniqueness and symbolism of a baby turning into a pig.

The story is deeply rooted in British culture. The game of croquet, the tea party, the Duchess, and the Queen all have British elements to them. The comical game of croquet in which Alice must play with a rolled up hedgehog and a flamingo add a mad twist to the traditional British croquet with hoops, ball, and a mallet. Additionally, the British language is seen throughout the story. Some readers might not know what some of the terms mean or what the characters are talking about, such as when the Dormouse talks about three sisters down in a well living off treacle. Many readers might not know what treacle or croquet is.

The illustrator John Tenniel who was the original illustrator of the first Alice in Wonderland portrays Alice with an almost adult-like face. She never seems to be smiling and some of the illustrations are a bit shocking, especially on page 15 in chapter two, “The Pool of Tears” where her neck is stretched almost like a giraffe’s and the rest of her body remains the same. However, these types of illustrations add to the creativeness of the story and give the reader a visual understanding of what Alice was experiencing. Another unique illustrations is in the chapter called “In a Little Bill” on page 55 where a tiny Alice was playing with a little puppy who is actually gigantic to Alice’s size. However, all of the illustrations are done with a skillfulness that makes the story more distinctive such as the size and the harshness of the Queen and the Duchess’s head.

Overall, the story and the illustrations make Alice in Wonderland a timeless classic that both children and adults can enjoy. Readers can learn much of the British culture and humor through the eyes of Alice, Carroll’s “mad” interpretations of British customs, and the Tenniel’s caricatures and illustrations.

Review excerpt(s)

Children’s Literature: “The actual social commentary and satire will elude most contemporary readers, but it in no way diminishes the joy of reading this classic story.”

Reading Matters (http://www.readingmatters.co.uk/book.php?id=65) “katriona, girl, age 10, from newport, United Kingdom, on 10th March 2006. Rating:” “This book is really fasinating and has great pictures and more people should read this more often because this is a FAB!!!!! book”

Connections

-Put an Alice in Wonderland tea party together. You can dress up as the characters and have a traditional British tea while you discuss the story and the author Lewis Carroll.

-Have a trivia game about Alice in Wonderland.

Other children and young adult books by British authors:

Austen, Jane. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. ISBN 0140373373

Dahl, Roald. JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. ISBN 9780140374247

Goudge, Elizabeth. THE LITTLE WHITE HORSE. ISBN 9780142300275

Jones, Diana Wynne. CHARMED LIFE. ISBN 9780688155469

Lewis, C.S. THE CHRONICALS OF NARNIA. ISBN 0066238501

Tolkien, J.R.R. THE HOBBIT. ISBN 0395071224